Why are there so many middle class that vote repub?

[bliss_eternal]

I don't know if I'll ever understand this. Anyone got any theories?

Just ran into some acquaintances of my husband's earlier in the evening--they voted for *, have a son in the military (mp). One in the couple (the wife), spoke against the war--doesn't think we should be there, yet when I asked her why she thinks we are still there, she had no idea, and seemed reluctant to speak against *. They may be middle class, barely--not sure what he does--she works a crap retail mgr. job.

Totally voting against their own interests...

I just don't get it.

[Hello_Kitty]

1. Maybe some other "values" issue such as abortion

Or possibly they bought into the anti-Kerry flip flop smears. I also talked to more that one * voter who claimed that it was because they felt he should "finish the job he started over there". As mind blowingly puzzling as that is, I actually felt it was one of the more reasonable motivators. Which isn't saying much.

[bliss_eternal]

2. I agree with you on that one--

the few that I heard that expressed that sentiment(that he should finish what he started) were the few that I didn't really feel as pissed about--not sure why. But notice I said 'not AS pissed.' It was still a pisser. LOL!

:hi: ccbombs!

[Hello_Kitty]

9. Hey back!

:hi:

[ComerPerro]

37. Yeah, its really strange. Especially since Republicans aren't even doing

anything to stop abortions.

[we can do it]

76. I Heard That One from A Democrat!

I asked her if a CEO was running a business into the ground would they be invited to stay and "finish the job". WTF

[WCGreen]

3. You have to remember that most people aren't as intuned

to politics as we are...

[bliss_eternal]

6. True--

good point. Maybe I could cut them some slack for that.

It was just really weird, she sounded rather progressive. She kept bringing up values and how America truly doesn't have any and we shouldn't be putting our values on other countries that don't share ours, not that we have any, she said. Seriously--none of that came from me. I just listened intently and occasionally asked her opinion, or for her to expound on something further. It was odd, coming from a republican but interesting.

[WCGreen]

39. At least she is thinking about it...

But we have to convince those kind of people that it is the Dem's who represent those values she is missing...

[bliss_eternal]

42. I was almost sorry

I didn't try--but she was drinking. Maybe another time, if I run into her and she's sober...

Isn't it interesting that the party she's voting for is the one that went on and on about 'values' yet she feels we have none? I wonder where all of that is coming from?

[salin]

51. Bingo! Folks make an early impression - tune out and keep the impression

early in the 1996 election cycle I received a couple of tickets to a Clinton event. News of where it was being held was only disclosed in the local media an hour or so before the event. As we walked to the event a woman glommed onto us (as if we could get her in). She was giddy. Had heard about the event and wanted to come to see if she could see Clinton.

"Historic," she called it (his visit to San Jose). Then she starts asking us: "So how did he do? (refering to his entire first term)" "I voted for him... but haven't really paid attention (admitting self-declared ignorance, with no shame)" "I really like him a lot and hope I get to see him (said with extreme enthusiasm.)"

Frankly I think a lot of folks tuned out - and the disservice that was the media coverage in the 2000 election (Bush full of integrity, Gore a serial exagerator) - is the impression that many folks still hold.

Has nothing to do with tax policy, war policy or anything else... just an initial (created by Madison Avenue sales folks) impression - mixed with an inherent belief, instilled in high school govt class, that govt and those elected (regardless of party) are basically good and therefor wouldn't act decietfully or in ways that would actually put national and economic security at risk.

[TomClash]

4. One word

Taxes.

[Skittles]

5. ????

do you mean they are brainwashed to think that "republican tax cuts" actually help THEM?

[bliss_eternal]

7. I wonder this, too...

:shrug:

[Hello_Kitty]

10. I swear to god you would not believe how many

Bring up the lottery when taxes are mentioned. They honestly think they are going to hit the Powerball any day now and the Gubmint is gonna take half of it.

The freakin' Powerball. Talk about faith based economics! :banghead:

[TomClash]

11. Yes they figure they are better off

Even if it is a small amount or a complete fallacy. That's why Kerry targeted his tax increase to those who make over $200K.

I don't care wha they tell pollsters - the upper middle class still hates taxes.

[Bill McBlueState]

56. something like that

Much of the problem is that many of the richest 50% of society think they're in the top 10%. Even though these people have no idea where they stand in relation to the truly rich, they like to identify with the wealthy, thinking they're only one lucky break or wise decision away from being rich. So they overreact to tax rates that will never affect them.

[izzie]

29. Once the higher incomes paid in the 85 %

You can see their reason then but that went out with a Dem. President JFK. Most people think it was a Rep. that did that. No one can bear this group in DC for stealing tax payers money. Makes the Dem. look like they were just playing.

[Bill McBlueState]

54. about that 85% rate

That was a marginal rate, meaning the rate was 85% on all income above a certain high-level cutoff. Even in that case, the rich still got to keep the vast majority of their income and wealth.

[ProfessorGAC]

55. And, JFK Did The Right Thing

That rate of taxation was impinging on the economy, was not helping the poorest get out of poverty by expanding the job base, and encouraged massive off-shore cash flow. Remember that the savings and investment rate went WAY up after the max. tax rate was lowered to 50% and the economy expanded for 5 consecutive years. That expansion fueled the revenue growth that paid for most of LBJ's war on poverty!
The Professor

[ProfessorGAC]

53. Better Word - Selfishness

Their aversion to taxes is just a mainfestation of their selfishness. It's ALL about them.
The Professor

[izzie]

8. I wonder about this also.

I have come right out and asked some people. You get some answers like this. I have always voted for the GOP. They will show them we can not be pushed around. It is our oil!!!!! Yes really. We should be able to go any place in this world with our being pushed around. That force thing over and over. Dem. want to take my guns. I do not like Unions. Since I always voted GOP until RR it always interests me.I voted for the GOP so long because I grew up in a home that did and did not give the whole thing much thought. When I did I found I was really very progressive. Many years ago I lived in the South and it was when the South left the Dem. party and you did not have to ask why they went over to the other party. They told you. I frankly vote on the value issue which will not let me vote GOP. Never once have I heard about the abortion thing but have heard Dem. bring it up. I find that interesting.

[bliss_eternal]

17. Hi Izzie--this is interesting

I wonder if the woman I was talking to just does so because she always has (community, parents, etc.). Some of the things she said, didn't necessarily sound like she 'fell in line' with them on their issues.

I'm beginning to wonder if there aren't a lot of people voting for a party they really don't believe in--but just don't know it. :shrug: kwim?

[izzie]

19. About my GOP mother

We once had a man in Maine who ran on health care one payer etc. and my mother knew him. She talked over and over about this great plan so I asked her if she was going to vote for him and I got this answer. 'No, he is a Dem and I have always been a Rep.' She was a good smart women who ran her own business etc but she could no bring herself to vote out of the party she knew and that had become a habit.I love the story my self.Took me many years to stop voting out of habit myself. Well I voted for Nixon. You have to know I was not watching what was going on or thinking about it.

[bliss_eternal]

31. We have something in common--

I'm also related to someone that voted Republican. I was punished as a child for saying 'disrespectful things' about Nixon as a child--guess who that pissed off?

;)

I think I was born liberal! LOL! I've always rooted for the underdog, even defended nerds from bullies in school.

[Cobalt Violet]

12. Brainwashed by the MSM

They buy into all the venom that the right wing spews.

Plus I think the middle class has a deep down fear of poverty and poor people.

I think that is a factor in how they vote.

[me b zola]

68. I think that is exactly it

Back in the eighties when the war on the poor was launched, repubs used the poor as a scapegoat for the declining standard of living. Jobs where leaving the country, benifits & wages where slowing/slipping away, but with a little smoke & mirrors, the repubs made the middle class feel as though the declining standard of living was due to poverty and programs that are (were) there to assist the poor. They made the middle class feel as if it was the fault of a "welfare queen" that they were paying taxes and less financially secure.

This tactic was very successful. Now that unions, living wages, benifits, and pensions are an endangered species, the reupbs have switched gears to use fear as their motivator.

[rodeodance]

13. they have the Dream and percieve of being and going beyond Middleclass.

It is a powerful incentive.

[stanwyck]

63. I hate to be sexist

but my very unscientific survey of Republican friends/co-workers/acquaintenances is that the men think that one day they're going to be one of the fatcats so they want to vote that way in order to feel more like one of the club. I vote..therefore I am.
These guys are the ultimate outsider wannabes.
Meanwhile, the conservative women I know are more inclined to vote Republican because they perceive, incorrectly, that the Republicans are more Christian and have better family values.
Nevermind that in reality, their conservative Republican politicos rack up divorce after divorce, abuse drugs and alcohol, have affairs, and behave contrary to the teachings of the Bible. They're anti-environmental (while the Bible is "green"). They're pro-rich and demonize the poor. (so much for the New Testament). And their motto is definitely not "judge not, lest ye be judged" but "I will judge all others. And not be judged, ever, myself."

[bklyncowgirl]

14. Delusion, disinformation, and lack of a coherent alternative

Americans by and large don't see themselves as belonging to the economic class to which they actually belong--or see that as a temporary place until their careers take off and they take their place among the "achievers". If you believe you will eventually become rich, it makes sense to vote for policies that will favor the class of which you believe you will soon be a permanent member.

Most people also don't spend large amounts of time learning about the world in which they live or the policies of the politicans who run it. If you are working a traditional 9-5, (and most of the up and coming types work far more than that) commuting an hour or more to your home in the suburbs where you spend the night taking care of dinner, kids housekeeping, you're probably not terribly inclined to check out the House or Representatives on CSPAN before you go to bed. You get your news on your car radio and that's mostly quickie headline news or if there's analysis, its generally analysis of the right wing variety.

Finally, the Democrats have done a poor job of marketing themselves and worse, of marketing the idea that government can be a positive force in ordinary people's lives. When many middle class people think of government, and the taxes that support it, they immediately assume that their hard earned money is going to be taken by Democrats to support people who have done nothing to earn it--someone who is not like them.

Given these realities, it seems to me that the only way to break through is with a bold message, exciting personalities and policies that make sense to the overworked American.

[bliss_eternal]

18. You make some excellent points

So much of what you said makes perfect sense as to how and why this happens.

I think of some of my in-laws. They are middle class, living in an upper middle class community. My husband suspects that they are living above their means, and LOOK upper middle class but aren't because they are so over-extended and do most (if not all) of what they do on credit.

To be as 'well-educated' as they think they are, they are really not very smart people. Not informed of politics at all...so busy keeping up with the Joneses among other things...

[mrcheerful]

15. There are very many reasons why,

they are under the impression that all welfare people are black welfare queens soaking up the fat of the land. Reagan told them that they'd save trillions of dollars if they got rid of welfare. Then theres the Reagan liberal myths still out there, liberals want your guns, liberals want your kids to get preggy so they can have abortions, liberals spend to much time caring for the minorities and are giving them a free ride into nice high paying jobs that they can't get, liberals are trying to take their religion from them and pollute their kids minds that being gay is ok. What it comes down to is those middle class people that vote republican do so out of fear, racism, bigotry and hate that someone else might get what they aren't. Also remember Reagan's biggest lie of all, through hard work and tax cuts for the rich, you too will be one of the elite or your kids will be.

[bliss_eternal]

21. What?!?

Quote:
Also remember Reagan's biggest lie of all, through hard work and tax cuts for the rich, you too will be one of the elite or your kids will be.

I was REALLY young during the Reagan era--I HATED him, and sadly avoided his speeches like the plague. So please forgive my ignorance on this matter. He SAID this? What crap!

[ultraist]

32. It's true

The Reagan era convinced many that the Repubs were the party of the successful and well to do while the Democrats were the party of the lazy failures of society who want to leach off of welfare and not work. Of course, this means that their money will be taken from them and funneled into social programs.

I live in the suburbs and that's what I see from the white middle class Repub voters. They are not the 'God, gays and guns' types. Most of them don't own guns and don't really hate gays, they just don't really care if they have equal rights.

[Cobalt Violet]

43. I feel bad for those who have never experienced the pre-Reagan America.

This post-Reagan American is so mean and heartless. The meanness just keeps on growing and growing.

[NI4NI]

16. That's a mystery

Just as mysterious as why Faux News is the #1 cable news network. Maybe that's the connection.

[HughBeaumont]

20. It's not that they like Republicans . . .

. . . it's that they really, REALLY HATE Democrats, thanks to our great Conservative-run, blame-the-victim-and-the-Clintons-for-EVERYthing media. It's been this way since Reagan. Working people and students who vote Republican are hypnotized by either the tired "Horatio Alger" bullshit ("Let's give the rich whatever they want, because I'm going to BE rich one day!") or the unfairness of Reaganite cyclops Rupert Murdoch's continuous subtle and not-so-subtle beatdowns and fearmongering of all things poor, needy, liberal or foreign.

[bliss_eternal]

23. Sounds like

Reagan did even more damage than I was aware of. :(

I learned on these boards, that the Reagan admin. was when 'liberal' became a 'foul word.'

[HughBeaumont]

33. A nice little dossier on Saint Ronnie here

Morning in America, indeed

[Atman]

22. Queers and fears.

The haters know how to keep the ignorant in line.

[Gman]

24. Wedge issues

abortion, guns, gay marriage, 10 commandments, etc.

without these the gop wouldn't exist.

[bliss_eternal]

28. Well--

they have kept quite a few states from legalizing gay marriage. :grr: Guns are still legal, even the major stuff.

So what happens if they actually manage to get roe v. wade turned? No more GOP? Or just wishful thinking on our part...

[Gman]

72. Some think Roe v Wade is in no danger of being overturned because

that would take away a lot of the get out the vote incentive for the right wing and stir up a hornets nest of choice voters they would rather leave alone. Personally, I think they would overturn RvW in a New York minute and keep going regardless of the outcome. Ideologues are focused only on ideology. A good recent example is the Dover School Board ID decision. The majority on the board knew damn well it would be overturned and stir up sentiment against them but did it anyway. They got theirselves voted out of office as a result. If they didn't know, they were even more blinded than I thought.

[salin]

52. true for the die hard and some others - but not enough

to get elected by those voters alone. See my post #51 - I think it is something even more profoundly disturbing.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

25. it's the flouride in the water.

[BiggJawn]

26. God, Guns, and Gays.

The ReTHUGs promise to protect 2 of those. Guess which ones?

The GOP scares the Upper Lower Class (there IS no Middle class" anymore) by claiming the Democrats have been taken over by Satan-worshippers who bring Xian babies to Hillary to eat, Al Gore is going to kick down your front door and PERSONALLY take your shotgun and .22 rifle away from you, and they will force your son to join the "Gay Scouts" and read "Daddy's Boyfriend".

[billbuckhead]

30. Racism

There's a reason Chimpy's approval rating is single digits among African-Americans.

[bliss_eternal]

38. Thankfully--

(not that I'm thankful for racism), the last election scared me regarding the issue of black voters. I couldn't believe how many black church congregations allowed themselves to be swayed based on all of his 'man of faith' bullshit.

Then along came Katrina... ;)

[ultraist]

27. A few long time Repubs on my street...

do not directly benefit tax wise from the Repubs, (earn under 200k) but the tech companies they work for do. They feel that Repubs are pro big business, which means job security for them.

It's also an identity thing---they want to associate themselves with the supposed party of the wealthy and successful, not the Democrats, the party of the poor, who want to take their hard earned money and dump it into social programs for the "lazy poor."

None of these folks I'm referring to are religious freaks and I don't think abortion or gay marriage are big issues for them. They all are educated, hold Masters in engineering or computer science, left brain, techie people who know very little about social issues, like poverty and racism.

Most white middle class people are very ignorant about social issues, IMO and very suceptible to buy into the negative stereotypes and lies that spew from the Repuke propoganda machine.

[adigal]

35. Many of my friends who are repubs

still believe that those on public assistance are Welfare Queens, they are shocked when I tell them that in some states the largest number of people on Medicaid are working for WalMart, which they also love. I heard Hannity say he loves WalMart - yeah, right, Sean, like you wifey-poo ever really goes in there! Ha!

[Jamison]

44. My theory on why they think this way...

"Most white middle class people are very ignorant about social issues, IMO and very suceptible to buy into the negative stereotypes and lies that spew from the Repuke propoganda machine."

These are people who have probably led fairly easy, trouble-free lives. I think that people like this don't understand social issues very well unless they have lived through some hardship, or have seen someone very close to them go through a hardship.

[ultraist]

59. I agree

These are people who have probably led fairly easy, trouble-free lives. I think that people like this don't understand social issues very well unless they have lived through some hardship, or have seen someone very close to them go through a hardship

Those people who have lived insulated lives and went right from mom and dad, into college, into a decent job don't seem to have a clue as to what the real world is like nor do they care. At least that seems to be the case with many people I know.

[bleedingheart]

48. I call that affluence by association...if I vote republican I must be rich

[area51]

67. "...the tech companies they work for...."

"...which means job security for them."

Ironically, by voting pro-nazi, your neighbors are basically voting to have their jobs offshored, the exact opposite of job security. The republinazi party is going to offshore jobs faster than the democratic party.

[DemonFighterLives]

34. The belief that the media is liberal

Since they believe that from being told it millions of times, they cower over to Limblob and Hannity and Fox. They don't want to be associated with any terrorist supporters, welfare queens, and America Haters. Red, whit and blue, support the president and damn the facts.
:patriot:

[bliss_eternal]

40. Everytime I hear them say that the media is liberal

I want to vomit.

If the media was so damned liberal, we wouldn't have this chump in office. If the media was so damned liberal, they would air far more of 'the real *' than they do now-they would truly be the watchdogs of society.

[zbdent]

36. For many of them (that got it), it was that $300 that W gave them

(actually, an advance on their next year's tax return) . . .

Probably . . .

[stanwyck]

64. Yep. Nevermind

that the measly $300 hardly begins to cover the increased gasoline and home heating costs. Or tuition. Or the absence of employee benefits.
Nope. That $300 bought a lot of votes.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

41. Whoever answers that question will have also answered why...

..."penis enlargement" spam works.

[Balbus]

45. because "people would rather believe in the possibility of getting rich,

than face the reality of being poor."

That's a movie quote where the character gave that answer when posed with pretty much the same question. Can you guess the movie?

[WinkyDink]

47. "1776".

Googled. Hee.

[txindy]

65. Ooo, you cheater! John Dickinson would be proud, though.

;) That's one of my favorite movies. John Adams is so deliciously snarky, as written. :applause: But it is Dickinson's willingness to stand up for his beliefs that was a pleasant surprise. You don't see that often in current politics. Not to that extent. Even the Continental Congress applauded his commitment.

[WinkyDink]

46. The insane hope they'll be in Trump's league eventually.

AKA: GREED. Avarice.
And a phony religiosity that somehow accepts greed as not a sin.
Nor pride.
Nor hatred.

[TahitiNut]

49. The Republicans yell "There's a bear coming!!"

... and then point to the people whose knees they'll bash in with a baseball bat. People not selected for knee-capping grab baseball bats and help out, breathing a sigh of relief that the bear won't get them ... yet.

[Lorien]

50. From what I've seen as a volunteer for our party, the middle class is OUR

base. When canvassing neighborhoods I've noticed that the vast majority of repug voters are the poor, the UPPER middle class, and the very wealthy. The "solidly" middle class are more often than not Democrats (remember; there are more Democrats registered in the US than repugs, but fewer vote). This would at least partially explain why the GOP is so dead set on DESTROYING the middle class!

[newportdadde]

57. Because the Democratic Party has abandoned economic populism.

Both sides are sellouts to corporations with big bucks, although Democrats have sold out slightly less. So Joe Average once past the wallet issue will move onto social issues which for whatever reason they feel Republicans give them the best option. Abortion, gays, .

Its my personal belief that our party must return to economic populism and take on the class war that is occuring everyday. We live in a time of great fear, fear of terrorism, fear of loosing your job and having to replace it with a crap service job paying 1/2 or less of your old job. In this culture of fear you need a message that either gives hope such as economic populism or you go with issues that divide and tap that fear for power. The RW has done a wonderful job of tapping that fear breaking open that wedge and using it.

I also feel the lack of political info takes its toll. Lets be honest here, the folks that post on this site and on RW sites are very into politics, I think your average voter like my friends only bother to care when they start seeing commercials on television. So quite frankly they believe the adds and the bullshit emails they get forwarded to them.

As an aside I really wish the Democratic Party would try to find a way to connect to rural voters and not abandon them for the urban cores of the US. I think an economic message would reach them.

There is also probably a bandwagon voting mentality right now. Everyone was a life time Dallas Cowboys fan 10 years ago.. or is a New England fan now etc.

Check out "Whats the Matter with Kansas?" its a great read.

[meganmonkey]

58. Taxes

and selfish thinking. Gimme gimme gimme. I grew up surrounded by it :puke:

[Justitia]

69. Yup, they want all the benefits of gov't w/out paying for it.

They want to be part of the country club that is America w/out paying mbrship dues.

Basically, repubs are freeloaders.

[Armstead]

60. Because the Democrats don't give them any real economic alternatives

Withough a clear unifying mesage based on liberal progressive principles, the Democrats just look to many people like pale imitations of Republicans.

The ONLY way to change that is follow the path of those progressiv/liberal Democrats who actually stick to their guns and win elections by honestly addressing the core issues that affect people.

[The Straight Story]

61. one possible reason, see here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=31102&mesg_id=31102

[txindy]

62. Credit cards make them think they're 'rich' like the ones who benefit.

Many won't admit they're middle class, not with their McMansions, boats, luxury cars, etc. The mighty credit card helps that illusion. If Junior helps the rich, which they do understand on some level, they count themselves in that class. Unfortunately for everyone except Junior, they're deluded.

[jeffrey_X]

66. I was going to post something similar to this after visiting my parents

I went home on Friday to see my folks since the wife and I were in Florida for the holidays.

They are conservative chrisitians who live in north-central Indiana. I've broken the mold and have become the black sheep of the family by marrying outside my race and turning left over the past 5 years or so.

We don't talk about politics or religion much as our viewpoints are completely different, but I found an opportunity to call my mom out. She's the more religious one as she sings in the choir, goes to bible study and reads a lot of christian literature. First off, my parents are great, kind, generous and I love them. My dad retired about two years ago, but has been giving a lot of his time back to the community. Recently he's been doing free medicare/medicade consulting work for the senior center in town. He's become an expert in this area and really helps people get signed up for the right program to help them save $$$ on prescription drugs.

So....I tell my mom that I'm really proud of Dad for giving back to the community. She says, "well it's the christian thing to do. Our pastor has us involved in a '40 days of purpose' program. Jesus would want us to help each other. It's what christianity is all about, helping each other."

So I said..."so how do you feel about the war in Iraq? Who are we helping by killing thousands of innocent people and thousands of americans? I know we got rid of a bad guy, but they didn't attack us."

She said..."Since 9/11 we've had to show people that noboday can mess with us"

I said, "But the highjackers were from Saudi Arabia, Iraq had nothing to do with it. And would Jesus really approve of people walking around harrassing and acting tough so not to mess with them?"

She said, "Well it's a tough situation. Don't you think we should have attacked Japan after Pearl Harbor?"

I said, "of course, but Japan was a tangible country that attacked us. Again, the people that attacked us were from Saudi Arabi and weren't aligned with a country...it's completely different."

She said, "Well it's a tough situation. You hear all of the stories from the soldiers who are coming home and telling about how many great things we are doing over there. I just don't understand why the media only reports the bad stuff."

So you see folks, this is what we are dealing with. Many of these christians justify their religion only on the local level, but it disappears when you deal with anything international.

[Individualist]

70. Willful ignorance

They drink the propoganda koolaid and enthusiastically convince themselves that the cabal is creating a utopia in this country. When confronted with facts about the crimes of this administration, they're either in denial or attempt to make excuses for them.

[BoneDaddy]

71. Easy Answer

The answer is three fold:
Religion
Class
Race

Every republican I know who is middle class and voted for Bush did so, even though it was against their best interests, based upon one, two and/or three of the above reasons.

[B Calm]

73. They're all suffering from Battered Wife Syndrome

[Ksec]

74. They hate black people

Its really that simple.

[we can do it]

75. Anti - (Insert Race, Gender, Etc.) Bigots

[Dob Bole]

77. Because there is no Populist party...

In our country, we have a Libertarian party, a conservative party, a centrist party (DLC), and a liberal party (greens and many Democratic candidates.) However, there is no clearly defined Populist party. Populism is fiscal liberalism-to-socialism paired with moderate-to-conservative social policy...if there were such a party, Dick Gephardt and John Edwards would probably be in it. About a fourth of Americans are populists, particularly religious women and racial minorities.

[GrantDem]

78. I work with these "types"...

Living in Indiana this seems to be a common occurance here. Middle class union members actually believe that the GOP has their interests at heart. The most common issue I hear is they hold out that one day the republicans will repeal Roe v. Wade and ban gay marriage. When asked about "pocketbook" issues such as Social Security, job outsourcing, etc. the reply is usually something like "God will take care of that"

It is truly frustrating....

[jeffrey_X]

79. Because they are scared of the word "liberal"....

I made a post earlier about visiting my parents this weekend. I'm really getting some good insight from talking with them.

I'm convinced of one thing. Middle class conservatives won't change, regardless if they secretly agree with us. Why won't they change? Because they don't want to be labeled as "left" or liberals. Many of these people are Reaganites who fell in love with the right during much of the 80's. If you weren't right you were a "liberal" or a communitst. And frankly this is all that matters. No matter what they think, there is a very larger percentage that is going to remain this way because they don't want to be liberal regardless of what it stands for.

[DanCa]

80. It's all Devils and Dust

The right wing media has brain washed middle america thinking that "All" Dem's are against religion and that were unamerican. Just remember to quote Bruce Springsteen, "they got god on thier side, and there trying to survive, fears a very powerful thing, it turns your heart black to dust. They take a god filled soul and fill it with devils and dust."

[VOX]

81. The ideal of a greater good has been replaced with "What about ME?"

Because of constant fear-prods from the MSM (and the lapse of the Fairness Doctrine), the country is devolving from "we and us" to a collection of "me and I." It seems that individual concerns have long eclipsed the old-school ideal of doing what's best for the greater good. Some common examples:
Why are MY taxes so high?
Will I survive a terrorist attack?
Why should I pay for welfare handouts?
Why should that killer go free in MY city?
MY religion is important to ME.

Most people live in a constant state of anxiety today. The right-wing pundits repeatedly tell the lie that all this anxiety is strictly the fault of the Demon Liberal, for he is anti-God, anti-American, anti-life, anti-family, anti-freedom, anti-business, etc., etc. The falsehood is spun over and over that the Demon Liberal will deny you your personal rights, and take away the few you have remaining. (In the meantime, the right-wingers are tapping the till, tapping the phone lines, and creating a bigger central government than ever conceived!)

What astonishes me is that, in spite of the fact that the right wing now runs all three branches of government, the "liberal boogeyman" is still something that is genuinely feared. :grr: